BrianMDTX

Now THAT looks like a good day!

To be brutally honest, I caught my PB on a UL 5’ rod and a 50 year-old spinning reel that I had set up for panfish. I had a #6 hook about 12” below a bobber with 1/2 a nightcrawler on it looking for a fat bluegill while I was working a Texas rig. I tossed it out, looked to be out about 5’ farther than I wanted it, cranked the handle 1.5 times and wham! I’ve fished for bass years ago with whole nightcrawlers like a plastic worm, but never expected to catch a 6-7 lb. bass on 1/2 a worm on a bobber.

Likely the Post of the Day!

To name just one, I'd have to say a 5" Senko wacky rig. When it's on, every time you flip that bait out near structure you can almost guarantee the line is going to start moving and there's a bass on the hook. I think deep-down I'm much more of a finesse, soft plastic angler than I am tossing crankbaits, spinnerbaits, etc. non-stop. I find it relaxing, challenging and a helluva lot of fun seeing that line start to move, reeling in the slack and Bam!

Ok, makes sense. I’ll have to get some 4/0 EWG hooks and try them.

Good question. When bowhunting bucks, it’s easy (seriously lol) to pass on spikes, forkies, little sixes and eight pointers and hold out for a P&Y-class 8 or 10. Shoot a small buck and likely your season is over. You may not arrow a big buck, but you definitely won’t if you tag out quick on a small buck. Bass? While you can definitely target lunkers, you can also be using smaller baits and catching smaller bass and still hook a big gal. It’s not a “one and done” deal. Of course I want to catch huge bass. But I think overall I’d be happy catching several 2-3 lb’ers vs maybe catching one over 6 lbs. But you could catch 7-8 smaller bass and still have a chance of hooking a monster. That’s the beauty of it!

Why a 4/0? What makes a bigger hook a better option on a Texas rig? I’m trying to get a good grasp on this as I have had some “hook up” issues with 3/0 EWG (and smaller) hooks on weighted or weightless TR. Is it more due to length (tip is farther back towards the tail of the bait)? Gap width (increases leverage on hookset)? School me on this!

My AIT buddies talked about going there, but somehow the Gasthaus on post seemed to get in the way lol.

Thanks. Spent some time in the Hampton Roads area at Ft. Eustis back in the day!

You can get a Fenwick HMX for $79.95 or $79.99 from a few places online. Darned shame this wasn’t asked a few weeks ago. Sportsman’s Guide had them for $53.99 on sale. I bought a 7’ MF casting and a 6’ 6” MF spinning rod. Too good a deal to pass up.

Wow. I could NOT stop them from hitting wacky and TR Senkos and Dingers yesterday. Almost “cast it and catch a bass”. Today, I caught one about 1.5 lbs and missed one on a wacky, and had one tap on a TR. No hits on a frog or jerkbait. Tough day!

Crankbait? What crankbait? ?

It would help if you gave some more info. What state/locality? Name of the lake?

I fractured two vertebrae in 2015. When I fish from the bank I need to bring a foldable chair as I cannot stand for long periods of time. Is it a PITA to bring a chair? Yes. Does it limit my mobility? Yes. Is it better than NOT fishing? YES! I am not good (yet) at flipping sitting down lol.

I caught 11 bass. The Dinger went back in the bag to use again. They definitely last longer!

I just bought a Fish Grip Jr. for $9.99. Used it several times the past two days. Easy to use, fits in a pocket and seems to hold tight without causing injury.

Because of this thread I recently bought my first and only pack of Dingers. Caught one small bass yesterday but lost the bait (somehow slipped off the O ring). Went back to Senkos and caught a few more. Went out out this morning. Figured I’d try the Dingers again. Caught 11 bass in 90 minutes on a weightless wacky rig. They do sink slower. Maybe that’s good at times and maybe not. Today it was darned good! I think I may have to buy a few more packs (after the four packs of Senkos I just bought are gone lol) and keep testing.

This pond is strictly C&R lol. But they would have made a nice dinner!

Had a great morning. Started with a spinnerbait. Had a strike near shore than nothing. Switched to my finesse rig with a 5” wacky style Yum Dinger and caught 11 bass in 90 minutes. Most were about a lb but these two were decent: Bites stopped, so switched to a weightless 5” Senko Texas rig. Missed one hit, cast back to the same spot and this one inhaled it ASAP. No hawgs, but what a fun morning!

Welcome from a former Marylander now in Texas.

5 to 6. Nice fish!

I disagree. I’m “confident” in a particular lure because it has produced for me many times in the past. Either because it’s a great lure, or it’s simply one I have a knack for fishing with. You cannot become confident without experience. Having said that, you can become stagnant being over-confident on a particular lure type or two. Sometimes bass want a fast-moving bait and sometimes they want it slow. I’m very confident with a 5” Senko fished weightless TR or wacky. But if I have no strikes in 60 minutes, the bass are telling me something.

I think I have quite a few “no confidence” baits!

Only a bass would really know lol. My best guess is that it’s hot, and there’s this big, juicy meal that’s either dropped in their noses or slow-crawled right past them, and it’s too easy to resist. Today my topwater frog did zilch. Switched to a 5” Yum Dinger and a 5” Senko wacky rig and they ate it up.

Starting with a white topwater frog with the baitcaster. No joy. Switched to my finesse rig with a weightless 5” green pumpkin Yum Dinger. Hit the water and I caught a 13” bass. They must not fit as tight as a Senko on the same O rings as I lost the bait. Had a damaged green pumpkin Senko in the box and simply put that on the hook. Caught another 13”. Tossed it back out and had a strike but before I could reel in the slack, it was gone. Repositioned the Senko on the hook, tossed it back out and a nice 18” sucked it in. I just started using Gamma 1/0 octopus circle hooks vs standard circle hooks. I like ‘em. Every one was hooked in the upper jaw right above the joint. Very secure but easy hook removal.